Biertempfel: Winter Meetings Could Be Deadline For Burnett Decision

PITTSBURGH (93-7 The Fan)- The Pirates have several decisions to make this offseason.

One major question is whether A.J. Burnett will be on the roster in 2014.

Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review told Bob Pompeani that the start of the winter meetings could be the deadline for Burnett to make a decision on his future.

“I think we’re coming close to — you can call it a deadline, you can call it a decision point, you can call it whatever you want,” Biertempfel said. “But I think we’re getting to a point where A.J. is going to have to say one way or the other, ‘This is the deal, do you want it, do you not want it?'”

Pompeani asked Biertempfel what options could be available in free agency if Burnett does not return. Biertempfel said that there could be a few options, but with younger players getting locked up, there will be less talent available.

“Especially in pitching, it’s not the deepest free agent market anymore. I think that’s been true, kind of a growing trend for the past couple of years,” Biertempfel said. “It’s going to be a little bit harder for the Pirates to get those kind of steals that they had gotten in the past with guys.”

Rob Biertempfel

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A sports anchor for KDKA-TV News at Six and KDKA-TV News at Eleven, Bob Pompeani began his career at KDKA-TV in 1982, but his...More fromBob Pompeani